Fun Days!

My trip back to Mexico -- three flights, one bus trip and a taxi ride -- was long, but uneventful. I was so eager to get back and see the girls, but so sad to leave Nicaragua and an infirmed Wayne. He's feeling better now and he and the team return late tomorrow night.

The girls and I have been enjoying having some time to relax and play. When we're in "class" here they are watched by a mom and daughter duo that have worked with the missionaries here at the base for years. Macadea and Sarai are very sweet and kind, but it's nice for me to have some quality time with the girls.

This morning we celebrated our freedom to do whatever we wanted with PlayDoh. It was Emily's first experience with it and we had a lot of fun.





This afternoon Alison finished something big.

Tonight we are going to the Chinese Acrobat Circus which is up the road for a few weeks. We've heard it's really fun and tickets for the three of us were under $15!

In case you're wondering, I haven't knit anything in over a week. I brought my knitting for the plane trips, but was told I'd have to check it. I want to knit, I just need to make time. :)

I'm in Nicaragua

Yep.

I know that last you heard I was in Mexico, but apparently I've become a bit of a traveler. Friday I was in four countries on my way here -- Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua.

Today we worked a dental and medical clinic down in Ciudad Sandino at the training base. It was amazing and life-changing and all those things people always say about missions trip. But it was more.

It was my first look at a future home.

It was the first time I saw the people God is stirring my heart for.

Today I think I spoke more Spanish than I have in my whole life and as frustrating as it was at times, it was also amazing.

Si.

Tezpotlan again

Yesterday we visited Tezpotlan, the day before we went to Mexico City. After a week of classes it was nice to have some "cultural immersion" days. We saw a lot of great things and got to practice our Spanish.

We bought Emily the most adorable handmade doll. It was only $4US!!! In the market there were embroidery "shops" that had what looked like fingering weight yarn. I was tempted to buy some, but it was mostly acrylic and I had no idea what the yardage was.

FOs in Cuernavaca, MX

I'm supposed to be knitting the rest of my sister's birthday gift (and am now), but the project is on very expensive and cherished Addi Turbos. Although the FAA is down with knitting, I was still a little scared they'd try to take it away and I'd lose my ATs.

So I decided to take an old size 7 circular and some cotton and knit some dishclothes -- totally easy pattern to memorize, totally inexpensive supplies to lose if push came to shove.

Here at the base we go through a lot of dishes. Last week my team was the Kitchen Team and we counted that we were washing somewhere close to 50 cups a day. There are 11 of us here, but all the cups are the same color and no one can keep track of one for too long, so 50 cups. As I was washing, sanitizing and drying I started thinking about knitting and then it occurred to me that I could leave the dishrags here instead of taking them home.

So they are loved by all and sure to be well used by us and future groups in their kitchen. And speaking of the kitchen -- check this out:



That stove has 4 burners, an oven, a grill, a huge skillet, a deep fryer and a broiler! And that list may not even be complete, those are just the things I've seen it do in the last two weeks. :)

Things I've Learned in Mexico

* Corn tortillas will taste good eventually if you don't have flour tortillas.
* 11 people can eat a lot of food.
* Scorpions are scary, even to Wayne.
* The rainy season is not just a cute way to describe a time of year.
* Emily can get out of a Pack n' Play.
* I'm a lot stronger than I thought.
* My Interpersonal Skills could use some work (we've been in an Interpersonal Skills workshop this week - super enlightening).
* My Spanish could use a lot of work.
* When you're cooking, learning, cleaning and living in community, there's not a lot of time to knit.

I apologize for the drive-by posting, but I'm pretty tired. I promise the next own will be better, maybe even with FOs. :)

I've had an excellent opportunity come up, you can read more about it here.

Feliz Cumpleanos Alison!

Alison turned 6 yesterday and our Mexican family bought her a cake with candles and everything. We had a little party at our mid-day meal. The cake was pasteles con tres leches and it's super rich, but tasty. Alison got the strawberry on top. :)

En Mexico

We made it. It was not the easiest trip, but we arrived safely at the training base at 2 AM on Saturday morning.

This weekend has been wonderful. We've been settling in and getting to know our 10-week family. The weather has been fair and even a little chilly at night - which is a blessing because the base has now air conditioning.

We lost Emily's binky on our last leg of the flight which has made sleep times a little tricky, but she's adapting. Historically it has taken her three days to adapt to any great change, so we're over the hump. :)

I've brought some knitting, but haven't really knit a stitch. But maybe tonight - I have a birthday gift to finish.

This week we go and live with a Mexican family in their home. This family has been instructed to speak only Spanish to us. I keep thinking it's going to be funny instead of frustrating. Fingers crossed. We also will be attending Language School in shifts so one of us is always with the girls.

Remember, remember

Roughly an hour ago, seven years ago we were shook by our vulnerability. In the weeks that followed we became better people than I think we thought we could be.

Remember that day. Remember the innocent and brave lives lost. Remember that we are all part of this, united.

Happy Birthday Seester!!

Hey Lady!

February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne

Yarn: Jojoland Wool, colorway 438

Needles: US Size 7

Dates: Started - June 19, 2008, Completed - August 31, 2008

Love it!



This sweater knit up relatively quick. The gull lace pattern is easy to memorize and recognize on the needles so you can pick it up and put it down with out having to check a row counter or tally sheet. I knit the sleeves before I finished the body, just to save myself form Purl Row Syndrome - I'm not the purl stitches biggest fan and having to do entire rows of it was a little daunting at times.

I cast off on Sunday afternoon and being very proud of myself, I decided to wear my FLS on my date with Wayne. I wore it for two hours before giving in to the 90 degree heat, but she's definitely coming to Mexico.

I didn't make any mods, but now I wish I would have followed the Rav crowd and made the sleeves a bit slimmer.



Again, I love it!

Stormy Weather

Well, hurricane season is still in full swing. Gustav didn't cause us much trouble -- although it did keep my brother-in-law from going back to work on his oil rig in the Gulf.

But this morning's news is bleak on the stormfront.

Coming later this week -- Hurricane Hanna (it's seldom a good sign when they become hurricanes before they even make it to Cuba).

Fast on her heels, Ike.

And behind him, Storm 10 -- not as scary since it has no name.

Alison's early birthday party is this weekend and in an effort to have a lot of fun and not have to clean too much, it was being held at the park by our house. Even if Hanna doesn't hit us directly, we're so water logged that even a little rain is going to flood out the park. I hope she gives up and decides to take an easterly course back across the Atlantic.

And Ike -- don't mess with my flight to Mexico.

(Not) Hurricanes are great for knitting

Well TS Fay came, saw the sights, decided to stay a bit longer and flooded my front yard.

Alison's first official week of school was two days long - one of which was the only day this week I would have called school off for. I do not complain though, because I know that the school board is made of people who are not hurricane whisperers and their main concern was the safety of my child. Plus, two of the make-up days are after we get back from Mexico so it looks like Alison will benefit from two additional days of public school that she would have otherwise missed.

We lost power for 16 hours, 6 of which I had a generator for. It ran the computer, cable, TV and refrigerator quite well. We lost Internet for 4 hours. I can't really say whether one was worse than the other.

I knit my February Lady Sweater.

A lot.

So much that I was convinced I would be finished with it by the end of this weekend. But then the knitting seemed redundant and I needed a change.

Did I start another pattern?

No, I finished the second sleeve.

When I got bored again, I wove in all my ends.

This sweater is ridiculously close to completion, but I am long-torsoed and am reaping the downside of that now.

It will be finished for Mexico though, because yesterday we got our list of things to bring and at the bottom were the beloved words: "a light sweater".

19 days until we leave!

First Day

Alison started Kindergarten today. Dropping her off was bittersweet. Anyone who knows me has heard me say that Ali and I were ready for school to start again. But I didn't realize I'd be so sad when she jumped out the the car and headed in.



Seriously, she treated it like a band-aid.

As soon as she shut the door, Emily started crying for her and moments later I was a mess too.



Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

BIG NEWS on the missions blog!!!

WINNERS!!!

THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!

We are so blessed by everyone's generosity and support!!!

And now, the WINNERS:

Nicole won 1 skein of Del Sol Superwash Merino sock yarn by The Chicks with Sticks!!

Kelly won 1 skein of Nanners Superwash Merino sock yarn by The Chicks with Sticks!!

Michelle won 1 skein of Largo Superwash Merino sock yarn by The YoYo (now available at the Loopy Ewe!)!!

Bianca won 1 skein of Masking Envy Superwash Merino sock yarn by The YoYo!!

Christine won 1 skein of Delite Superwash Merino sock yarn by RubySapphire!!

Andrea won 1 skein of Meggy Superwash Merino sock yarn by Ruby Sapphire!!

Patricia won 3 knitting needle bracelets from Sassafras Creations!!

I am on my way out the door for a meeting, so if you won and you see this - can you email me your address?? Otherwise, I'll email everyone when I get home. :)

Send Us to Mexico -- And Win Fabulous Prizes!!

On September 12th we'll begin a 10-week, intensive missionary training course in Mexico.

At this training we will:

* spend a week living in the home of a family that only speaks Spanish
* hear from renowned Bible and missions teachers
* learn how to plan our budget and raise support for our move to Nicaragua
* participate in conflict-resolution training
* learn how to lead a short term missions team
* learn how to practically survive in a foreign country on a fixed budget
* plus lots more

The cost for the four of us to attend is $8000. This includes airfare, room, board, shots, etc. We are supported by our home church, Fusion Church, but need additional funds to make this happen.

You can learn more about what we'll learn and what we'll be doing in Nicaragua by visiting our missions blog: http://hellopapaya.blogspot.com

Here's where you come in - we're having a raffle!!!
Since you've read a lot, let's see some prizes first!!!



1. Del Sol Handpainted Superwash Merino Wool by The Chicks with Sticks
400 yds. - Fingering weight



2. Nanners Handpainted Superwash Merino Wool by The Chicks with Sticks
400 yds. - Fingering weight



3. Largo Handpainted Superwash Merino by The YoYo
425 yds. - Fingering weight



4. Masking Envy Handdyed Superwash Merino by The YoYo
250 yds. - Sport weight



Top:
5. Delite Handpainted Superwash Merino by RubySapphire
550 yds. - Light Fingering weight

Bottom:
6. Meggy Handpainted Superwash Merino by RubySapphire
550 yds. - Light Fingering weight



7. A set of 3 knitting needle bangles from Sassafras Creations
You pick the colors! :)

If you hadn't noticed, that's a lot of sock yarn! I love sock yarn! I love the yarn I've received from each of these ladies and the bracelets I have from Sassafras Creations are amazing! Ann-Marie, Alyson, Nancy, Lauri and Sam are great ladies who have graciously donated all of these prizes.

Here's what you do:

Click that button up there in the top, right corner that says "Paypal Donate".

For every $10 you donate, you'll get one entry into the raffle for one of these amazing prizes. Give $50, get 5 entries.

You can give as many times as you'd like or just give all at once.

The raffle will end at 12 PM EST on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008. Winners will be announced around 6 PM that night. :)

**If you'd like to donate a prize, please email me: megan (dot) tingle (at) gmail (dot) com

Please give generously, we're going to revolutionize a generation and you can help! :)

It fits!

Pen's gifts arrived a bit early and her mommy let her open them. All told, this sweater should last her two years if we're lucky. :)

FREE TIBET

None of us are free until ALL of us are free

Join knitters worldwide in a challenge from Bev.

25 Months

Emily has begun to talk. Not for the first time, but seemingly out of no where she's got conversation and sentence structure down. I imagine part of it is having Ali home, creating more "adult" conversation.

She's also started naming things on her own. For instance, the sun is "the hot". Aptly named really, where'd they get the word sun anyway.

This morning, she counted to three. And not just for giggles, she was counting herself in before beginning a rousing rendition of a song I've named "The Monkey, Boots" because the lyrics told me to. Why did she have to count in? Because she was providing herself musical accompaniment on Daddy's guitar.

I love that kid.

****

The raffle is shaping up rather nicely. I plan to officially begin it and Internet-wide promotion tomorrow when I've got all the prizes coordinated - they are wonderful and lovely and generous. :)

If you'd like to get a jump on the whole shebang, just click the Paypal button up there on the right - in the official raffle, each $10 donated will equal one entry. If you give between now and the official start (approximately noonish on Thursday), I'll give you two entries for every $10. :)

We're on a mission

Things have been a little crazy around here - and don't look like they'll settle anytime soon.

We've accepted the call to full time missions in Nicaragua. Yeah, you read that right, we're moving to Nicaragua. Not today or tomorrow, but it's coming.

Our first step is attending a 10-week Missionary Training in Mexico in September. We've started the process of raising the needed funds to get all of us there. We know that God is bigger than our circumstance and His glory will be seen in the next few months.

I'm going to try to keep the content here knitting and kiddo related, although the occasional missions bit may come in. And I'm planning an amazing raffle to help raise some support - details coming as soon as I hear back from a few prize donaters.

In the meantime, if you want to follow our adventure, you can here: http://hellopapaya.blogspot.com.

It rained the WHOLE TIME

Yesterday my darling, British friend Becks and I took the kids to New Smyrna Beach. We'd checked the weather report and saw that there was a chance of precipitation, but we figured we'd soldier on.

Minutes after we'd unloaded everyone and everything from the van, the sky opened. A few of the casualties included Becky's clothes, Elijah's clothes and a lot of towels. We camped out in the van and ate our picnic lunch.

It slowed down so we got out to play a bit. Eli and Ali camped out under an umbrella and tried to build a sandcastle while I trekked back and forth to the ocean collecting buckets of water for the moat. Except it was still raining and it was windy and I kept getting rain in my eyes.

We stayed for 2.5 hours in unchanging conditions, hoping against hope that it would clear up.

Then the beach patrol pulled everyone out of the water and closed the beach because it started lightning off the shore. We took that as a cue to leave.

It was probably one of the worst days to ever, ever go to the beach, but we had a lot of laughs, I ended up with a little tan and the kids still think we're the coolest.